End of an era: Cabbage Fairies pass leaves to next generation

PALMER — The Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off is regarded by many as the most iconic event featured at the Alaska State Fair.

"This is the Alaska State Fair," Alaska State Fair CEO Jeff Curtis said.

A group of fun-loving women known as the Cabbage Fairies have become equally iconic for bringing colorful charm to the overall experience.

"They're icons. They're a brand. The Cabbages Fairies represent the Alaska State Fair," ASF Crops Superintendent Kathy Liska said.

The original six cabbage fairies retired from their roles this year and passed on their ceremonial leaves to the next generation. Four of the six core members were able to attend their final weigh-off.

"It's sad to see this happen, but they're putting in a group that's going to carry the tradition forward," Liska said.

Ginny Lawton established the Cabbage Fairy tradition in 2005, according to her daughter Kate Lawton.

Ginny, Jane Desnoyers, Gael Irvine, Audrey Kelly, Pat Gakin, and Carla Swick were the original group of Cabbage Fairies.

"We’ve had a lot of fun through the years,” Ginny told the Frontiersman.

Kate said people light up when they see them and many young girls have said that they want to be fairies too.

"It's wonderful to see how much people enjoy interacting with the fairies," Kate said.

Heather Amgwert is part of the second generation of Cabbage Fairies. She said that she's enjoyed witnessing the Cabbage Fairy tradition prosper over the years and she's excited to be a part of it.

"It started small and it just got very popular,"

They've become part of the Fair. It's expected and tradition," Amgwert said.

Kate said that she spent years following her mother around as she donned the sparkly, green fairy outfits with her friends and went out to interact with Fairgoers before, during and after the official weigh-off. She said their presence brings a sense of fun and light-heartedness to the competition and overall Fair experience.

"It changed them in a positive way. Once you put on this costume you go out and you're this personality… It's kind of magic," Kate said.

The Cabbage Fairies also act as the Pumpkin Fairies during the giant pumpkin weigh-off, wearing bright orange outfits to suit the occasion.

Kate is also part of the second generation of Cabbage Fairies and she's happily taking on her mother's role in keeping the tradition alive. She said the Cabbage Fairies act as ambassadors of the Fair and she takes great pride in helping keep the tradition alive. She said that growing crops, whether they're giant or normal-sized is at the core of what the Fair was founded on, dating back to when the original Mat-Su Valley colony held the first Fair in the state's history in 1936 to celebrate a successful year of growing and adapting to Alaska's harsh and unforgiving wilderness.

"We're honoring the agricultural roots of this community and encouraging people to participate in growing cabbages and pumpkins and having that go forward into the future," Kate said.

For more information, visit alaskastatefair.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com